Los Angeles Cleantech Calendar 2013 – October

Welcome to the October 2013 Clean Tech Calendar of events for southern California. This Calendar is provided by Green LAVA – the Strategic Interest Group of the Los Angeles Venture Association dedicated to exploring and explaining regional clean and green technology, business and trends. The conference season is winding down but there are still some great green oriented programs on tap for the balance of September and into October.

Sept 16 – CleanTech OC 2013 is the fourth annual conference and expo promoting economic growth in the Orange County clean technology industry, likely to be one of the most significant engines for job growth over the next decade. Attended by cleantech entrepreneurs & industry leaders, investors, policy makers, and many others, this is the only annual conference in Orange County dedicated to covering the clean technology space and connecting industry stakeholders from throughout the region & state. Hyatt Regency, Irvine, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Sept 16 – 17 – The American Council on Renewable Energy presents the Renewable Energy Finance Forum – West, the nation’s largest annual event for renewable energy finance. REFF-West has been uniting senior financiers, investors and clean energy executives from across the US each year since 2008. Covering a range of renewable and clean energy technologies, with a particular focus on developments in the Western US, topics covered at REFF-West include project financing, venture capital, renewable power generation, emerging commercial technologies, financing smaller projects, equity financing and established technologies. Four Seasons, San Francisco.

Sept 17 – Green LAVA presents The True Cost of Carbon – a conversation with author, authority, environmentalist and premier food company Founding Director, Jackie Keller of NutriFit. Jackie will help us understand the effect of climate change on agricultural practices, food security and crop developments. And we will have a presentation by Sandra Lee who manages business development efforts and demand creation initiatives for LACI portfolio company Skyline Innovations. Sandra will share some lessons learned from a company that created an successful business model based on opportunities borne of policies and regulations to mitigate carbon emissions. This event requires advance registration as it will be held in the access controlled offices of Stradling in Santa Monica, 7:00 – 8:30 PM.

Sept 18 – New Business Incubator and Startups in the 101 Tech/Biotech Corridor – The Clean Technology Council’s monthly event will feature Alan DeRosset and Mike Outmesguine, Co-Founders of 101 Corridor Tech Incubator. The unique geography of the Hwy 101 business corridor in Southern California defies classification. Spanning three counties & nearly a dozen cities from Burbank to Santa Barbara, it is the home and headquarters for some of the nation’s leading tech and biotech companies. Total Wines Conference Room, Thousand Oaks, 5:30 – 7:30 PM

Sept 23 – 24 – 5th Concentrated Photovoltaic Summit is the leading concentrated photovoltaic event in the US this year, don’t miss your chance to come together with the entire CPV community over 2 information and networking packed days. There are a number of challenges and opportunities facing the concentrated photovoltaic industry this year. Observers are looking to see if CPV can reduce its costs and become more competitive, while companies focus on technical innovation to ensure that CPV can turn its potential into a market force. Hyatt Place, San Jose.

Sept 24 – 26 – 6th Annual Utility Scale Solar Summit the primary business hub where decision–makers come each year to move the utility scale solar sector forward. This networking event is the place where the entire utility scale solar community gathers to get the latest insights into the market and to meet the key players. This year’s Summit will focus on the key trends impacting the utility scale sector and what they mean for the future of the industry. Leading utility-scale solar project developers, investors, lenders, utilities, equipment suppliers, construction contractors and other key industry players will all be on hand to share their perspectives on how to meet the challenges of developing the next wave of utility scale projects, preparing for a post-ITC era, and getting projects financed and completed. Rancho Bernardo Inn, San Diego.

Sept 25 – 26 – 4th Annual Utility Scale PV Plant Optimization Summit. In spite of huge growth in 2012, utility scale solar is not yet seen to be competitive outside of subsidies. With some states coming very close to fulfilling their renewable portfolio standards, developers, EPCs and suppliers are working harder than ever to reduce costs and increase yield. To help them achieve this Utility Scale PV plant Optimization conference is back for its 4th year! Hyatt Place, San Jose.

Sept 29 – Oct 2 – Geothermal Resource Council presents the 37th GRC Annual Meeting and Geothermal Energy Expo – the world’s largest geothermal industry gathering. The 4-day event will offer technical, policy, and market conference sessions, educational seminars, tours of local geothermal and renewable energy projects, and numerous networking opportunities. The GEA Expo floor features a unique opportunity for leaders in the business to showcase their projects, equipment, services and state of the art technology to the geothermal community. MGM Grand, Las Vegas.

Sept 30 – Oct 3 – Plug-In 2013 Sales are accelerating, but questions remain about technology costs, market evolution, consumer education and infrastructure development. Plug-In 2013 will bring together key industry stakeholders to discuss, debate and, ultimately, answer these questions and more, such as: What is the current thinking on technology and policy? What have we learned over the last three years – where do we think the electric highway is taking us? What is the current risk assessment? What are the risks and value propositions today and what will they be in the next three to five years? How do we sell a new value proposition? San Diego Convention Center, San Diego

Oct 3 – 13 – The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is an award-winning program that challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency. Open to the public for 8 days over 2 weekends (Thur – Sunday), free of charge, the Solar Decathlon gives visitors the opportunity to tour the houses, gather ideas to use in their own homes, and learn how energy-saving features can help them save money today. See the link for times and events.

Oct 4 – Each year, the AQMD recognizes companies, organizations and individuals who have made a significant contribution to cleaning the air and creating a more sustainable economy. The 25th Annual Clean Air Awards Luncheon will include awards for: Advancement of Air Pollution Control Technology, Innovative Transportation Projects, Model Community Achievements, Public Education on Air Quality Issues and Promotion of Good Environmental Stewardship. Additional awards are the S. Roy Wilson Memorial Award for Leadership in Government and the Robert M. Zweig M.D. Award for outstanding contributions in the field of medicine or air pollution health research. Millennium Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles, 11:30 AM.

Oct 4 – 5 – The 4th Annual Southern California Energy Summit will feature two full days of educational sessions, keynote presentations, panel discussions and an exhibit hall of cutting edge technologies. Confirmed speakers to date include California Energy Commissioners Carla Peterman and Karen Douglas as well as California Public Utilities Commissioner Catherine J.K. Sandoval. Previously named the Coachella Valley Energy Summit, the new name reflects the broader geographic base and aims to unite around the hub of renewable resources, foster collaboration and stimulate change. Palm Springs Convention Center.

Oct 5 – 6 – University California Irvine is the inaugural host University of the XPO clean energy exposition. The XPO will include the first-ever California Challenge energy-efficient race car time trials. Student-engineered vehicles from across the nation will compete to go as far as they can in one hour on $1 worth of energy from any source. Cars powered by methane and electricity — as well as those with efficient gas engines — will be at the starting line Oct. 5 and 6. This is a companion event to the Solar Decathlon.

Oct 9 – 10 – California Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Summit will provide a balanced forum for businesses, academia, and government agencies to explore hydrogen and fuel cells through intelligent conversation, surprising presentations and thought-provoking sessions. This year’s event expands the Summit to two full days, with a special focus on picturing the vision and promise of the technology contrasted by the advances already made, using hard data from industry developments in the real world. Byron Sher Auditorium, Cal/EPA HQ Building, Sacramento.

Oct 10 – Cleantech Open Western Region Awards and Innovation Showcase invitation-only event is the culmination of the western region accelerator program. Hear from industry luminaries on the latest in cleantech, see the eight category finalists pitch and join us as we announce the Final Four who will each win $20,000 in cash and services and will go on to compete at the Global Forum event for the $200,000 grand prize package. Fremont Marriott, 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM.

Oct 14 – 17 – VERGE SF will connect the brightest business innovators, innovative entrepreneurs, and leading public officials to illuminate the business opportunities created by radical efficiencies in energy, building, water and transportation technologies. VERGE tracks include: New Energy Systems, Next-Gen Buildings, Resilient Cities, Smarter Logistics, Sustainable Mobility and the Food-Energy-Water Nexus. Discover the future of disruptive sustainability and network with a unique audience of leaders from corporations, startups, cities, nonprofits, academia and public policy. Palace Hotel, San Francisco.

Oct 19 – 20 – the Los Angeles Green Festival heads to the LA Mart. The Festival is the nation’s premier sustainability and social justice event! At this two-day festival of fun, over 200 green businesses and organizations gather under one roof with leading social and environmental speakers and performers to inspire, inform and engage you. This family and community oriented event highlights sustainable products, demonstrations, cooking workshops, news of renewable, recyclables, zero waste products, services and practices to help you live a sustainable lifestyle. LA Mart, Los Angeles

Oct 29 – 30 – World Bio Markets USA provides the executive-level platform through which to understand and describe where you fit into the complex and fast-changing landscape of the bio-based industries. Whether you are developing better feedstocks, creating technology to turn them into valuable end-products, investing to make money, or creating policy frameworks to create new markets and jobs, World Bio Markets USA will provide an invaluable chance to learn from and network with the most relevant CEOs and industry leaders. Parc 55 Wyndham San Francisco-Union Square.

Green LAVA is the Strategic Interest Group of the Los Angeles Venture Association focused on opportunities and challenges coincident with the design, development and deployment of sustainable products, services and businesses. Green LAVA is generously supported by Stradling, LLP.